Apparatus and associated methods for adjusting a user's sleep

Abstract

An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receive a sleep profile of a user, the sleep profile comprising recorded sleep phases of a sleep session of the user; receive a target sleep outcome for the user, and based on the sleep profile and the target sleep outcome, determine a sleep adjustment for provision to the user, the sleep adjustment comprising stimuli configured to attempt to adjust the user's sleep during one or more of the sleep session and a subsequent sleep session in an attempt to achieve, at least in part, the target sleep outcome.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:   receive a sleep profile of a user, the sleep profile comprising recorded sleep phases of a sleep session of the user;   receive a target sleep outcome for the user, and   based on the sleep profile and the target sleep outcome, determine a sleep adjustment for provision to the user, the sleep adjustment comprising stimuli configured to attempt to adjust the user's sleep during one or more of the sleep session or a subsequent sleep session in an attempt to achieve, at least in part, the target sleep outcome;   wherein the target sleep outcome comprises one or more of:   changing the length of time of one or more sleep phases of the sleep session; or   changing the length of time of one or more sleep phases in a subsequent sleep session compared with the corresponding sleep phases of the sleep profile.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine the sleep adjustment for provision to the user by using a sleep biosignal recorded during a sleep session of the user. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the sleep biosignal comprises one or more of:
 a position of the user's head;   a position of the user's body;   motion of the user's head;   motion of the user's body;   motion of the user's eyes;   the heart rate of the user;   R-R intervals of the user's heartbeats;   the breathing rate of the user; or   the temperature of the user during the sleep session.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the target sleep outcome is one or more of:
 determined by the apparatus based on the received sleep profile;   input by the user; or   input by a secondary user other than the user.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the target sleep outcome further comprises one or more of:
 sleeping for a different total sleep time, in a subsequent sleep session, than the sleep profile total sleep time;   sleeping for the same total sleep time, but for a different portion of the day, in a subsequent sleep session, compared with the portion of the day spent sleeping of the sleep profile; or   reducing the duration of one or more detected adverse sleep conditions.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to
 receive awake profile data for the user, the awake profile data comprising a record of activities during a period of being awake; and   determine the sleep adjustment further based on the awake profile data for the user.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sleep adjustment comprises stimuli configured to attempt to adjust the user's sleep during one or more of the sleep session or the subsequent sleep session by attempting to induce an adjustment in sleeping posture of the user. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the stimuli are configured to be provided to the user by one or more earphones to be worn by the user during one or more of the sleep session or the subsequent sleep session. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is one of: an earphone, a module for an earphone, a server remote from and in communication with an earphone; the earphone to be worn by the user during one or more of the sleep session or the subsequent sleep session; or a pillow. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sleep adjustment comprises one or more of: audio stimuli, vibratory stimuli, temperature stimuli, or pressure stimuli. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein audio stimuli comprises audio information for provision to the user during one or more sleep phases most conducive to the user retaining the audio information. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine an awake instruction for provision to the user, the awake instruction indicating an activity for the user to perform to support the attempt to adjust the user's sleep during one or more of the sleep session or the subsequent sleep session in the attempt to achieve, at least in part, the target sleep outcome. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine the identity of the user by determining one or more biosignals indicative of the user, and determine a sleep adjustment for the user. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein where a subsequent sleep session is to be attempted to be adjusted according to the target sleep outcome, the sleep profile comprises at least one previous sleep session. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive awake profile data for the user, the awake profile data comprising a record of activities during a period of being awake; and determine the sleep adjustment further based on the awake profile data for the user. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether the duration of provision of the sleep adjustment exceeds a predetermined sleep adjustment threshold, and if it does, prevent the provision of further sleep adjustment until the expiry of a defined period of time. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine the sleep profile of the user by using one or more of:
 a sleep biosignal recorded during a sleep session of the user; or one or more demographic factors of the user.   
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 a control apparatus; and   one or more earphones in communication with the control apparatus;   
       the control apparatus configured to:
 receive a sleep profile of a user, the sleep profile comprising recorded sleep phases of a sleep session of the user; 
 receive a target sleep outcome for the user, 
 based on the sleep profile and the target sleep outcome determine a sleep adjustment for provision to the user, the sleep adjustment comprising stimuli configured to attempt to adjust the user's sleep during one or more of the sleep session or a subsequent sleep session in an attempt to achieve, at least in part, the target sleep outcome; and 
 provide the determined sleep adjustment to the one or more earphones; the one or more earphones configured to: 
 receive the determined sleep adjustment comprising the stimuli from the control apparatus, and 
 provide the stimuli to the user during the one or more of the sleep session or the subsequent sleep session; 
 wherein the target sleep outcome comprises one or more of: 
 changing the length of time of one or more sleep phases; or 
 changing the length of time of one or more sleep phases in a subsequent sleep session 
 compared with the corresponding sleep phases of the sleep profile. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 receiving a sleep profile of a user, the sleep profile comprising recorded sleep phases of a sleep session of the user;   receiving a target sleep outcome for the user, and   based on the sleep profile and the target sleep outcome, determining a sleep adjustment for provision to the user, the sleep adjustment comprising stimuli configured to attempt to adjust the user's sleep during one or more of the sleep session or a subsequent sleep session in an attempt to achieve, at least in part, the target sleep outcome;   wherein the target sleep outcome comprises one or more of:   changing the length of time of one or more sleep phases; or changing the length of time of one or more sleep phases in a subsequent sleep session compared with the corresponding sleep phases of the sleep profile.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following:
 receiving a sleep profile of a user, the sleep profile comprising recorded sleep phases of a sleep session of the user;   receiving a target sleep outcome for the user, and   based on the sleep profile and the target sleep outcome, determining a sleep adjustment for provision to the user, the sleep adjustment comprising stimuli configured to attempt to adjust the user's sleep during one or more of the sleep session or a subsequent sleep session in an attempt to achieve, at least in part, the target sleep outcome;   wherein the target sleep outcome comprises one or more of:   changing the length of time of one or more sleep phases; or   changing the length of time of one or more sleep phases in a subsequent sleep session compared with the corresponding sleep phases of the sleep profile.